Lady Dogs slip into finals of Florence Tournament

Thorndale shrugs off slow start to reach championship

BY MARIE BAKKEN Reporter Staff Writer

Margie Sue Llana pocketed 17 points in Thorndale's win over St. Michaels. FLOR ENCE—A f ter get ting off to a rough start, the No. 10 Thorndale Lady Dogs were able to get in the win column twice over the weekend and even advance to the championship game of the Florence tournament.

Despite losing that tourney title game to St. Michael's Academy, Thorndale head basketball coach Bradley Dickerson said the team is looking to build up and improve.

"We played our best game of the year against the best team we've played. We had chances to win, but turnovers were the ultimate downfall," Dickerson said. "We are looking to improve each game and have done so thus far. I am really excited about this team's effort and their potential. I think we are moving in the right direction."

Thorndale fell to St. Michael's on Saturday 52-42 after advancing to the championship game with wins over Johnson City and Cedar Park JV.

In the St. Michael's game, senior Jordan Heine and junior Margie Llana were standouts with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Katy Bransom scored four points and Mirah Knapek two.

Senior Caitlyn Goetz led the team defensively w it h eight rebounds, four assists and one steal. She also had one point.

In the tournament semifinals on Thursday, the Lady Dogs defeated Cedar Park JV 54-35. Llana put up 14 points and seven rebounds and Kara Niemtschk had 11 points to lead Thorndale.

Knapek scored eight points, followed by Heine and Bransom with five each, Goetz and Brealyn Hernandez with four apiece and Olivia Atkins with three.

During their opening game in Florence, Thorndale crushed Johnson City 42-16, giving the Lady Dogs their first win of the year.

Goetz came alive with 12 points and Llana scored eight. Atkins had six in her varsity debut, while Hernandez put up five, Knapek four, freshman Marlene Hall 3 and Heine and Bransom each with two.

Monday night

In the season home opener on Monday night for the Lady Dogs, they chalked up a resounding 53-26 victory over Little River- Academy.

Heine poured in 17 to lead the Lady Dogs, now 3-3 on the season.

Llana followed in double digits with 10 points.

Thorndale put the clamps on the Lady Bees, jumping out 11-1 and then outscoring them 32-9 in the second half.

Up next, Thorndale varsity and junior varsity teams were to play at Rockdale on Tuesday night and will host St. Andrew's Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 1 with games starting at 6:30 p.m.